Electric switch device and receptacle.



' c. J. KLEIN. ELECTRIC SWITCH DEVICE AND RECEPTACLE- APPLICATION FILED OCT-5I19II- 1.,143,206. I Patented June 15, 1915.

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CHARLES J. KLEIN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. 00., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH DEVICE AND REGEP'I'ACLE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J nine 15, 11915..

Original application filed April 28, 1911, Serial No. 623,906. Divided and this application filed October 5,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switch Devices and Receptacles, of which the following is a full, clear, concise; and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to electric switch devices and receptacles therefor.

It has among its objects to provide an improved electric switch device.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved means for supporting and insulating a switch mechanism as well as improved means for inclosing the same.

Other ob ects and advantages of my improved construction will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one form which my invention may assume in practice. My invention is,

however, not limited to this specific form away. Fig. 4 shows a top plan view of one of the base members. Fig. 5 shows a bottom plan view of the same. I

This application is a divlsion of my 00-- pending application, Serial No. 623,903,

filed April 28th, 1911. r

In the construction illustrated in the drawings I have shown a push button operr her 6 provided with bearing surfaces 7 arranged to engage the active surfaces of the cams. The oscillating contact member 6 is spring-pressed by a suitable spiral spring Serial No. 653,086.

8, surrounding a central shaft 9 which passes between the cams 3 of the cam member and serves to hold the parts of the base together by suitable taps 10 and 11 carried upon its ends. This specific form of switch mechanism, however, constitutes no part of the present invention. Obviously, various other forms of switch mechanism may be employed in lieu of the same.

The nsulating base is of substantially cylindrlcal uniform cross section andits parts are so recessed as to provide a central chamber 12 within which the switch mechanism is housed. Communicating with this chamber 12' are suitable grooves 13 in the adjacent parts of the base, through which the push buttons 1 are reciprocated. Suitable recesses 14 and 15 are provided in the upper and lower surfaces of the parts of the base to receive the taps 10 and 11. The termmal contacts for the switch mechanism are preferably carried upon the upper surface of the part 5 of the insulating base. The contacts 16 and 17 are preferably of resilient type attached to the base by means of suitable screws or rivets 18 and 19 which extend through to the opposite side of the base, one of the same serving as a binding screw for the conductor, while theother is connected to a threaded shell 20 carried on the lower surface of the part 5. In a preferred construction, the threaded shell 20 is provided with inturned portions 21 on its opposite sides which are substantially elliptical in shape and are housed in correspondingly and are located opposite each other. previously mentioned, one of theseparts 21 is connected to one of the resilient contacts 16- 17. The other of these inturned portions 21 is attached to the base by means of a suitable screw 22. In a preferred form the central contact 23 is attached to thebase by means of a suitable binding screw 24 which extends through to the upper surface of the part 5 wherein its upper end is housed in a suitable recess. The bottom of the part 5 is preferably recessed to permit the neck of the central contact to pass through the same and the bottom of this part is also preferably provided with a substantially star-shaped series of projections 26 which serve as sep tums separating the conducting parts carried upon the bottom of part 5.

' The part 4 of the insulating base, as prewithin the shell.

viously described, is mounted upon the part 5 so that the grooves 13 in the bottom surfaces of the'same register with the grooves 13 in the top surface of the part 5 in order to permit the push buttons to pass through the same. Infa preferred form, vertically extending conductor guiding grooves 27 are formed upon op osite sides of the two base members 4 and so that the conductors may be brought down along the side of the same to one of the contacts 1617 and to the binding post for the central terminal 23. In order that the insulating base may be supported in a sopkehthe upper member 4 is provided on its opposite sides with extensions 28. These extensions are provided with angularly disposed. side walls 29 and beveled ends 30. In a preferred form these extensions 28 are preferably located above the push buttons 1 and are slightly angularly disposed with respect to the same, as shown in Fig. 2.

The switch mechanism when inclosed in the two parts 4 and 5 of the insulatingbase is carried in an improved socket. The socket is shown in section in Fig. 1. Thissocket is substantially cylindrical in cross section and is made in two parts31 and 32, the part 31 constituting the body portion ofthe socket/while the part 32 constitutes the cap. In a preferred form the part 31 is formed of a single piece of punched metal and is provided with reinforcing ribs or beads 33 and 34 at points adjacent its ends. In a preferred form an insulating lining 35 of substantially cylindrical cross section throughout its length is carried within the part 31 of the socket and is held in position in the same by pressing a portion of the insulating material into one of the beads or ribs 3334. This insulating lining may be made of any suitable insulating material. such' as a fiber if desired. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the upper end of the part 31 of the socket is provided with oppositely located, vertically extending slots 36, which are rounded at their bottoms and arranged to receive the push buttons 1. The upper ends of these slots 36 are preferably cut away at one side, as shown in Fig. 3, to form substantially rectangular-shaped openings above the push buttons which are adapted to receive the extensions 28 on the part 4 of the insulating base, as shown in Fig. 3. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the insulating lining 35 is cut away opposite the openings in the top of the casing 31 and the bottom and s'ide'ed'ges of the extension of the slot 36 areinturned, as at 37, to prevent the rotation of the lining The upper member 32 of the shell or socket is in the form of a cap and is preferably provided with an outer metallic casing having an insulating lining 38, and carries a threaded conductor nipple 39 on its upper end. Within the nipple 39 a suitable threaded conductor bushing 40, having a central groove 41 through which the conductors extend to the switch mechanism, may be secured by a pin 42. As illustrated in Fig: 1, the outer metallic casing 32 may be provided with a central opening which is adapted to receive the lower end of the nipple 39 and the nipple 39 may be provided with internal screw threads 43 arranged to receive the bushing 40'. In a preferred form the insulating lining 3,8 is locked in position within the cap 32 by means of one or more struckin portions 44 in the body of thecap 32, preferably rounded out about a slit formed in the cap. These struck-in portions are arranged to be received in suitable cut-away portions in the downwardly extending edges of the insulating lining 38. It is to be noted that the insulating lining 38 is provided polygonal in cross-section, as shown in Figsb 2 and 3. In the case'of the upper cap mem- .with a central opening at its top which regber the cross section is atrifle enlarged in order that the cap may pass over and inc ose the top of the part 31. In order that the two parts 31 and 32 of the socket may not be accidentally separated longitudinally, a flange 45is formed on thecap 32 above the polygonal edge of the same, and one or more suitable struck-up portions 46 are providedon the polygonal portion of the part 31. As illustrated in Fig. 3 these struck-up portions are preferably provided with a rounded upper surfacewhich is pressed outward,-

the lower edge of the struck-up portion being substantially straight where the metal of the part 31 is slit. These struck-up portions 46 are arranged to snap over one of the inner walls of. the flange 45 when the parts of the socket are assembled, as shown in Fig.1 and thus effectually prevent any accidental longitudinal. separation of the parts of the casing. However, whenit is desired to separate these parts they may be very readily separated by simplv depressing a portion of the part 31 adjacent the polygonal portion, as, for instance at the a point indicated by an arrow in Fig. 3.

By my improved construction I have provided an improved electric switch device which is adapted to use with any one of a large number-of electricswitch mechanisms. The switch mechanism is compactly housed between the parts of an insulating base which carries'all the terminal connections for the same and when assembled constitutes a single unitary mechanism which may be readily removed from the casing by simply pushing the same out of one end of the casing. Further, by my improved construction, this base in its inclosed switch mechanism is supported by the casing and insulated therefrom and is prevented from rotating within the casing. By the provision of my improved construction and arrangement of terminal connections for the switch mechanism, these parts are effectually insulated from each other and are very conveniently arranged so that the con ductors may be readily attached to the same when desired. By the improved construc tion of the casing which I have employed I have been able to provide a casing of substantially cylindrical uniform cross section which may be readily and cheaply manufactured and which may be constructed in a very small size. Further, all of the parts of the switch mechanism are effectually insulated from this casing and the linings within the casing are so attached to the casing that they may not move independently of the same. Further, by my improved construction the two parts of the casing are prevented from rotating with respect to each other and from being accidentally separated longitudinally while they may be very readily separated when it is desired to separate them and may be readily assembled by simply snapping the two parts together. Further, by my improved construction and arrangement of the parts herein described I am able to provide an electric switch device which may be manufactured in a very compact form so as to occupy but little space and which is of a rugged construction Well adapted to stand long use and service and capable of being manufactured at'small expense. Y

While I have in this application described one specific form which my invention may assumein practice I do not wish to be limited to this specific form but wish rather to include all of those modifications and adaptations of my invention which fallwithin its spirit.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 2-- 1. In a lamp socket, in combination, a switch mechanism having a rigidly protruding operating member, a supporting base for said switch mechanism having a laterally extending projection above said operating member, a two-part inclosingcasing for said base having an open-ended slot to receive said operating member and said projection and having transverse walls engaging said projection to support said base.

2. In a lamp socket, in combination, a base for the current carrying parts provided with laterally extending supporting lugs and a two-part casing for said base having openended slots in one part thereof to receive said projections of said base, said projections engaging with bottom walls of said slots to support said base within said casing and engaging with side walls of said slots to prevent rotation of said base relative to said casing,

3. In a lamp socket, in combination, a switch base having laterally extending portions providing transverse and longitudinal shoulders, and a two-part inclosing casing for said base having open-ended slots to receive said projections, the side and bottom walls of said slots being inturned to engage the transverse and longitudinal shoulders of said base to support the same and to prevent rotation thereof relative to said casing.

4. In combination, a switch mechanism having oppositely disposed push-buttons, a supporting. base therefor, said base being provided contiguous to said push-buttonswith lateral projections and an inclosing casing for said switch and said base comprising two telescoping sections, one having slots on opposite sides to receive said projections of said base and having communicating slots to receive said push-buttons, said projections of said base engaging the walls of said first mentioned slot to support said base and prevent rotation thereof relative to said casing.

5. In combination, a switch having a push-button operating member, a supporting base therefor having a shoulder and a two-part inclosing casing for said switch and base, one part of said-casing having an open-ended slot at one end thereof to receive said push-button and having a shoulder to engage said base shoulder for supporting said base in position with said pushbutton out of contact with the walls of said slot.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub scribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN.

Witnesses H. L. RooKwELL, FRANK I-I. HUBBARD. 

